Australian Racing tips – Monday 6 December – Tuncurry

Best Bet: HARD TO EXCEL (Race 4) 
Value Bet: SOUND AND VISION (Race 5)

Jackpot (race 4 – 7)

Cost: R54.00 

Race 4

HARD TO EXCEL was bumped at the start before finishing fifth last time out over 1100M, 3.2L behind the winner, but the form of that race has been franked. He has a handy draw four and will have his peak run since returning from a 24-week break. In addition, the gelding gets a set of blinkers fitted for the first time and if these have the desired effect, he should be a big runner here and as such, he is taken to be the best bet on the day’s card.

SCANLAN is a 4yr old filly taking on the boys, but she had finished second in her two runs prior to ending up in fourth place last time out over 1500M, three and a half lengths behind the winner when coming four wide into the home straight. She stayed on well that day and despite a wide gate fourteen, she should be doing her best work late.

SACRED DELAGO had to be held up between the 200M and 100M marks when finishing seventh on debut over six furlongs, 2.8L back from the victor. He would have learnt from that experience and with the natural improvement that can be expected, he should be involved in the finish.

Race 5

This looks to be a tricky race with plenty of runners in with a realistic chance of finding the winner’s box, but this may make SOUND AND VISION such good value. He followed up his penultimate run victory over 1300M with a second-place finish next time out over 1350, beaten just a head, notwithstanding coming five wide into the home straight. He finished off his race well that day, suggesting that the extra ground on offer here will be to his liking. He has cracked pole position and will have 2kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice to aid his cause.

LASTING GRACE on the other hand is drawn wide in gate twelve and is a 5yr old mare taking on males, but she was hampered approaching the home turn before finishing eighth last time out over a mile, just over six and a half lengths off the winner. She returns from a 20-week rest but has put in two encouraging barrier trials.

SEA LEGEND was slow away and came four-wide into the home stretch when tenth in his latest outing over 1350M, five and a half lengths behind the winner. He was returning from a 23 week rest that day and gets cheekpieces fitted for the first time and if these help him keep his mind on the job at hand, he should be right up there in the mix.

Race 6

OAKFIELD CAPTAIN is seldom far off the action and although recorded as finishing fifth in his latest run over a mile, he was just 1.3L behind the winner, this in spite of having to be held up between the 400M and 300M marks. He finished well once he saw daylight and from pole position today, he looks to be the one to side with here.

REAL TIME WARRIOR has won two of his last three outings, the latest over ten furlongs by just over half a length. He was friendless in the betting markets that day and raced toward the rear of the field before unleashing a powerful finish to win going away. He faces the widest draw of them all in gate twelve, but given his style of racing, he is likely to be dropped out of it in the early stages and then start to pick off the frontrunners over the closing stages.

BATTLE GUARDIAN won his penultimate start over 1900M and then finished a short-head second last time out over ten furlongs. He raced four-wide approaching the home turn in that contest, but made good late progress over the latter stages. He gets a wideish gate eight, but he should nevertheless be included in all bets. 

Race 7

OH SAY is a 4yr old filly taking on boys and she had solid form prior to finishing fourteenth last time out over 1300M, 7.3L behind the winner, but nothing went her way in the home straight that day. She had to be held up between the 200M and 100M marks, before being checked at the 50M pole. She jumps from a cosy draw two and with better luck in running today, she should give the males a good run for their money.

CAPRI LANE tried to go from jump to wire before ending up in seventh spot last time out over six furlongs, 6.3L back from the victor and was immediately move stables and rested for 17 weeks. The gelding returns here to have his first run for his new trainer, but he did win his only barrier trial, which suggests that he is fully settled into his new surroundings and as such, he should give a good account of himself here. He has pulled a wideish gate nine, but on the plus side, he will have 4kgs removed from his allocated weight courtesy of his claiming apprentice.

CLEARLY REGAL has finished closer to the winner in each of his last three runs, the latest when third over 1250M, just 0.7L adrift of the victor. He attracted plenty of betting support that day, but was severely checked at the 50M mark when finishing well. His objection against the winner was however overruled, but from draw five, he will be hoping to make amends today.